McQueen Art

A portrait of Alexander McQueen gets gallery space

A double portrait of the late Alexander McQueen and Isabella Blow is now on show in the UK for the first time at the National Portrait Gallery. The picture, entitled Burning Down The House, was taken by David LaChapelle in December 1996 at Hedingham House in Essex, and first appeared in Vanity Fair.

"This is a fabulous fantasy image of an exceptionally creative pair – Alexander McQueen and Isabella Blow – taken by a great innovator in contemporary portraiture, David LaChapelle," said National Portrait Gallery director Sandy Nairne. "It has become an iconic image."

At the time the picture was taken, McQueen was just 27 years old and was still working at Givenchy. Both are wearing creations by the designer himself, with Blow sporting a Philip Treacy hat.

The image was bought by the National Portrait Gallery with the financial help of McQueen and Blow's long-term friend Daphne Guinness, The Marrakech Gallery Foundation and artist management company Fred Torres.